Fruitful Living
Jesus: Our model of discernment (Final)
Throughout His ministry, Jesus modeled perfect discernment. He confronted false teaching with truth (Matthew 22:29), He discerned the motives of those around Him (Luke 5:22), and He resisted the devil’s temptations by anchoring Himself in Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11).
When faced with flattery or traps from the Pharisees, Jesus was never deceived. He saw beyond words to the intentions of the heart. His example shows us that discernment is not merely intellectual but spiritual — it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
As His followers, we are called to walk in the same wisdom. Philippians 1:9–10 captures this prayer beautifully: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (NIV)
How to live with discernment
So how do we practice discernment in our daily lives? Scripture provides practical steps:
- Renew your mind in God’s word
Just as Jesus countered temptation with Scripture, we too must fill our hearts with God’s truth. Daily reading and meditation anchor us in what is eternal.
- Guard what enters your heart
Proverbs 4:23 warns: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (NIV) Be intentional about what you read, watch, and listen to.
- Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance
Discernment is not only mental; it is spiritual. Romans 8:14 reminds us: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Ask the Spirit to reveal truth and expose deception.
- Evaluate the fruit
Jesus taught us to recognise people and ideas by their fruit (Matthew 7:16). Ask: Will this produce holiness, peace, and love in my life, or will it lead to sin, compromise, and confusion?
- Walk in community
God often uses other believers to sharpen us. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Surround yourself with people who love truth and can lovingly challenge you when needed.
Illustrations of discernment
Think of Daniel in Babylon. Surrounded by a culture hostile to his faith, he discerned what to reject and what to accept. He refused the king’s food that violated God’s law (Daniel 1:8), yet he willingly studied Babylonian wisdom, using it to serve with excellence while remaining faithful to God. That balance is discernment in action.
Or consider the Bereans in Acts 17:11. They were commended because they “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Their discernment was not suspicion but a sincere desire to confirm truth through God’s Word.
Conclusion
To live like Jesus is to live with discernment. It is to resist the temptation of simply going along with the crowd and instead anchor every decision, thought, and influence in the truth of God’s Word.
Discernment protects us from deception, equips us to live faithfully, and enables us to shine as lights in a dark world. As Paul wrote: “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 (ESV)
Let us, therefore, make it our prayer to be discerning people — wise, Spirit-led, and anchored in Scripture. In doing so, we will live not just as believers in name, but as true followers of Jesus, reflecting His life in a world desperately in need of His light.
- Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee,
the author
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